Wire cutter



Feb. 17, 1959 w. R. FREEMAN 2,873,524

WIRE CUTTER Filed Nov. 12, 1957 Fig.2

Warren R. Freeman INVENTOR.

WIRE CUTTER Warren R. Freeman, Berkeley, Calif. Application November 12, 1957, Serial No. 695,741)

2 Claims. (Cl. 30--182) Other objects of the invention are to provide a wire cutter of the character described which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, compact, of light weight and which may be manufactured at low cost.

These, together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent, reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a wire cutter constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view in top plan thereof;

Figure 3 is a view in vertical longitudinal section through the device; and

Figure 4 is an end elevational view.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a pair of side plates 5 and 6 formed to provide a pistol-type handle 7 which includes a spacer 8 of suitable material, preferably plastic. Formed integrally with the plate 5 is a forwardly projecting bar 9 provided, at longitudinally spaced points with integral clips or guides 10. The forward end portion of the bar 9 is folded upon itself in a manner to provide a rearwardly facing anvil 11. Immediately adjacent the anvil 11 the bar 9 has formed therein a recess or notch 12 for the reception of the wire to be cut. The upper portion of the anvil 11 is bevelled, as at 13, to facilitate engaging the wire in the notch or recess 12.

Mounted for longitudinal sliding movement on one side of the stationary bar 9 in the clips or guides is a knife bar 14. At its forward end, the knife bar 14 terminates in a bevelled cutting edge or blade 15 which is cooperable with the anvil 11. The knife bar 14 terminates in a right angularly extending rear end portion or flange 16. Formed integrally with the upper edge of the plate 5 is a retaining flange 17 for the rear end portion of the knife bar 14.

Pivotally secured at 18 between the plates 5 and 6 is a lever 19. The lever 19 includes a forked or bifurcated upper end portion 20 which straddles the flange 16 for operatively connecting said lever to the knife bar 14. A spring 21 between the plates 5 and 6 is engaged with a Patented Feb. ii, 1%39 lug or the like 22 on an intermediate portion of the lever 19 for retracting the knife bar 14.

It is thought that the use of the tool will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the spring 21 normally maintains the lever 19 and the knife bar 14 in the full line position of Figure 3 of the drawing. The wire to be cut is engaged in the notch or recess 12 and the lever 19 is actuated against the tension of the spring 21 for sliding the bar 14 forwardly, thus cutting the wire between the blade 15 and the anvil 11 in an obvious manner. Of course, the lever 19 is actuated to the dotted line position of Figure 3 of the drawing by the fingers of the hand which grips the handle 7. When the wire has been cut and the lever 19 released, the knife bar 14 is retracted by the spring 21.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A wire cutter comprising: a pistol-type handle embodying a pair of similarly shaped flat plates opposed to each other in spaced parallel separable relationship, an elongated relatively narrow bar flat on at least one face coplanar with and projecting forwardly from a forward edge of one of said plates and having an anvil integrally formed on the forward end of said bar, an upper edge portion of said bar adjacent to said anvil having a recess therein for retentive reception of the wire: to be cut, longitudinally spaced guides carried by and projecting laterally beyond said flat face, a fiat knife bar slidably contacting the flat face of said bar, said knife bar being of a length greater than said narrow bar and slidingly connected with said guides, the forward end of said narrow bar provided with a cutting blade movable toward and from and coplanar with said anvil, the rearward end of said knife bar extending into the space between said plates and having a right angularly bent actuating flange positioned for movement between said plates, a lever having a median portion pivotally mounted between said plates, a lower portion of said lever depending below adjacent lower portions of the plates and providing a handle coplanar with and movable toward. and from said first named handle, an upper portion of the lever being bifurcated and defining a fork, the furcations of said fork straddling said actuating flange, the median pivoted portion of said lever having a rearwardly projecting coplanar lug confined for movement between said plates, and spring means mounted in the space between said plates and operatively cooperating with said lug.

2. The structure defined in claim 1, and wherein said spring is bent upon itself between its ends with one free end engaging said lug.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,197,430 Barnes et al. Sept. 5, 1916 1,347,651 Nauth July 27, 1920 1,385,481 Williams July 26, 1921 2,660,786 Loyd Dec. 1, 1953 2,763,926 Pate Sept. 25, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 569,736 Great Britain June 6, 194-5 

